Nehemiah 7 8

Nehemiah 7:8 kjv

The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.

Nehemiah 7:8 nkjv

the sons of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two;

Nehemiah 7:8 niv

the descendants of Parosh ? 2,172

Nehemiah 7:8 esv

the sons of Parosh, 2,172.

Nehemiah 7:8 nlt

The family of Parosh ? 2,172

Nehemiah 7 verses

Nehemiah 7 8 Meaning

Nehemiah 7:8 records that two thousand one hundred and seventy-two individuals from the family of Parosh returned from the Babylonian exile to Judah. This verse is part of a comprehensive roster, compiled by Nehemiah, documenting the exact numbers of various families and groups that journeyed back to their ancestral homeland. It emphasizes the specific, meticulous count of those who were part of God's covenant people, re-establishing themselves in Jerusalem and surrounding areas after a prolonged period of displacement.

Nehemiah 7 8 Context

Nehemiah 7:8 is embedded within a meticulous genealogical record (Neh 7:6-73) that catalogs the specific families, individuals, and their numbers who returned from the Babylonian exile to Jerusalem and Judah. This register closely parallels Ezra chapter 2. Nehemiah's purpose in compiling this list, immediately after the monumental task of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, was to organize the repatriated community, ensure accurate family lines, re-populate the holy city, and allocate resources and responsibilities for both civil life and temple service. It established the identity and rightful place of each family within the re-forming nation, highlighting the continuity of God's people despite the exile. The preceding chapter (Nehemiah 6) describes the completion of the city wall, and the following verses (Nehemiah 8) detail the public reading of the Law, marking the spiritual and communal re-establishment of the people. This census was crucial for laying the foundations of a new phase of national life centered on God's covenant.

Nehemiah 7 8 Word analysis

• The sons of Parosh: In Hebrew, בְּנֵי פַרְעֹשׁ (B'nei Par'osh).
  • בְּנֵי (B'nei): Plural construct form of בֵּן (ben), meaning "sons of." In genealogical contexts, it refers not just to direct male offspring but to descendants, a lineage, or the members of a particular family or clan. This term emphasizes familial identity and corporate belonging within the larger community.
  • פַרְעֹשׁ (Par'osh): A specific personal or family name. Parosh was one of the major and most numerous family groups among the returnees. Its prominence indicates its significant contribution to the post-exilic community and potentially its established leadership roles. This name anchors the general number to a concrete familial unit, affirming its historical reality.
• two thousand one hundred and seventy-two: In Hebrew, אַלְפַּיִם מֵאָה וְשִׁבְעִים וּשְׁנַיִם (alpayim me'ah v'shiv'im u'shnayim).
  • This is a precise numerical figure. The inclusion of exact numbers in such biblical lists underscores the careful and methodical nature of the registration. It suggests administrative accuracy and the importance placed on the specific identification of each person or family group who returned. The precision points to divine oversight in gathering His remnant and highlights the magnitude of the task and the faithful response of the people.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "The sons of Parosh, two thousand one hundred and seventy-two.": This phrase collectively represents a single entry in the detailed census of the repatriated community. It functions as an official record, stating the family designation ("The sons of Parosh") and the precise headcount ("two thousand one hundred and seventy-two") for that lineage. This specificity reflects the significance of heritage and belonging for the people of Israel after the exile. It identifies a large and influential clan and establishes their verifiable contribution to the repopulation and reconstruction efforts, crucial for understanding the social, religious, and political structure of the nascent post-exilic Judah.

Nehemiah 7 8 Bonus section

This verse, identical to Ezra 2:3, exemplifies the close textual relationship between the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, suggesting a common historical source or shared compilation efforts. The presence of such a precise census in both books emphasizes the administrative necessity of tracking who returned from exile. This meticulous record-keeping was not merely for human organizational purposes; it underscored the theological truth of God's covenant faithfulness in preserving a seed for Himself, demonstrating that the chosen line would continue. While this particular verse (Neh 7:8) and its counterpart in Ezra 2:3 show no numerical discrepancy, elsewhere in chapter 7 and Ezra 2, there are slight variations in numbers for other families, which scholars attribute to factors like scribal variations, different points in time for taking the census, or rounding in different copies of the register. However, the total number of the returning congregation across both lists remains the same, highlighting the general reliability and significance of these lists for understanding the foundation of the re-established community of Israel.

Nehemiah 7 8 Commentary

Nehemiah 7:8 is a brief yet profound declaration within a crucial roster, illustrating God's meticulous care for His people and their identity even after devastating exile. It's more than a dry statistic; it is a testimony to the preservation of a covenant community. The precise numbering of the "sons of Parosh"—a large and notable clan—underscores the meticulous attention given to lineage and heritage, which were foundational to Israel's national and religious life, connecting them to Abrahamic promises and ancestral lands. This detail demonstrates that despite the chaos and dispersion of exile, God was faithful to His promises, bringing a faithful remnant back, whose very existence was precisely known and recorded. These records provided a basis for tribal land distribution, eligibility for priestly service, and a reaffirmation of their place as the people of God, rebuilding their lives under divine providence. Practically, these types of accurate records still serve as a powerful reminder for believers today that God knows each one of us by name and takes care in organizing His people for His purposes.